Kaohsiung mayor promises security during Zhang visit

KAOHSIUNG -- Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) said Tuesday that she will ensure the safety of China's top official in charge of Taiwan affairs amid concerns about protests by pro-independence activists during the officials visit to the special municipality in southern Taiwan.

Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), head of the Taiwan Affairs Office under China's State Council, is scheduled to visit Kaohsiung later this month, although the schedule of the visit has yet to be announced.

“The freedom of speech of Taiwanese people should be respected, but the personal safety of visitors to Kaohsiung should also be protected,” the mayor said.

Yang Ting-kuo, head of the Kaohsiung chapter of the minority Taiwan Solidarity Union party, as well as pro-independence activists, have threatened to follow Zhang wherever he goes in Taiwan to make clear their insistence on safeguarding Taiwan and its future from Chinese threats.